Search Dictionary
Definition of doornail

doornail

/ˈdɔːr.neɪl/
door · nail
Plural:doornails
JUMP TO:

doornail Lexical Profile

doornail Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A large-headed iron nail formerly used to stud heavy wooden doors for added strength or ornamentation (now used almost exclusively in the simile 'dead as a doornail').

Example

"Without a fresh battery, the old car in the garage is as dead as a doornail."

Word Nuance & Usage

In contemporary English, 'doornail' is virtually restricted to the fixed simile 'dead as a doornail', meaning unmistakably dead, defunct, or inactive.

• Nearby Words

doorless
doorman
doormat
doornail
doorplate
doorpost
doorsill

Word Origin & Etymology

Attested in Middle English by the 14th century, the word combines 'door' and 'nail'. The expression 'dead as a doornail' likely arose from the carpentry practice of 'clenching'—bending over and hammering flat the protruding point of a heavy iron nail driven through a door, rendering it permanently unusable or 'dead'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Doornail. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/doornail
Built for writers, students, and competitive word game players, Wordmom combines an uncluttered English dictionary and thesaurus with fast, pattern-based word finders so you can verify definitions, synonyms, and high-scoring tile plays in one place.
Word Games & Solvers
Word FinderScrabble Word FinderWords With Friends CheatWordle SolverAnagram Solver
Dictionary & Reference
DictionarySynonymsAntonymsWords
Community
Contact UsEditorial PolicyPrivacy PolicyTerms and Conditions
© 2016–2026 Wordmom Network. All rights reserved. Made with for word lovers everywhere.
Disclaimer: SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A. and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro. Words With Friends® is a registered trademark of Zynga Inc. Wordle® is a registered trademark of The New York Times Company. Other referenced game titles and tournament lexicon codes (including NASPA NWL and WESPA/HarperCollins CSW) are trademarks of their respective owners. Wordmom is an independent reference utility for educational and entertainment purposes and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Hasbro, Mattel, Spear, Zynga, The New York Times Company, NASPA, WESPA, or HarperCollins Publishers. All game names are referenced strictly under nominative fair use to indicate compatibility.